Two-thirds of New Zealanders are touched by dementia

New research reveals two-thirds of New Zealanders
are touched by dementia

Alzheimers NZ
calls for Kiwis to ‘get their heads around
dementia’

New research released by
Alzheimers NZ reveals that two out of every three Kiwis know
or have known someone with dementia. For 64 percent of those
people it is a family member and a third have been involved
in their direct care and support.

Alzheimers NZ
Executive Director Catherine Hall said the new study titled
Awareness and Understanding of Dementia in NZ 2014
has been released to launch the About Dementia
campaign, which encourages New Zealanders to ‘get their
heads around dementia’.

“This new research
tells us is that dementia touches the vast majority of New
Zealanders, and for many of us it directly impacts our
family and our daily lives,” Ms Hall says.

“It
also reveals an underlying fear of dementia in New Zealand,
with more than a third of respondents stating that dementia
is one of the things they fear most about getting older. 15
percent said they fear dementia more than any other
condition, second only to cancer.”

How we compare
internationallyMs Hall says Alzheimers NZ was also
surprised to find that New Zealanders are generally less
fearful, and they are better informed and more accepting of
dementia than our international counterparts.

“New
Zealanders’ attitudes towards dementia are more positive
when compared with international research. Most New
Zealanders indicated they would be willing and able to help
people with dementia in public, and would be happy to talk
about it if a close family member was diagnosed with
dementia,” she says.

“When compared to a recent
12 country study[1], New Zealanders are generally less
fearful of dementia (with 15% fearing dementia more than any
other condition) than the global average (23%). More than
one-quarter of Australians fear dementia the most.”

The About Dementia campaignMs Hall says that
despite its widespread impact, the new research also reveals
that nearly half of New Zealanders don’t know much about
dementia, and that there are misconceptions about the
condition.

The About Dementia campaign
encourages New Zealanders to find out more about the
condition so they are prepared if it affects them or someone
they know, and so that people affected by dementia can get
the help and support they need.

“The reality is
that dementia is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing and
most significant healthcare challenges. New Zealanders all
need to know more about the condition so they can recognise
the early warning signs and get support if it affects them
or someone they know,” Ms Hall says.

“Increased
understanding and acceptance of dementia amongst the general
public is also critical in supporting people with dementia
to remain actively engaged in their communities.”

The About Dementia campaign is funded by the
Ministry of Health and Pub Charity. It features the lived
experiences of people affected by dementia, including
Alzheimers NZ’s Champion for Dementia Colin
Mathura-Jeffree.

For more information about dementia
and the About Dementia campaign, visit www.aboutdementia.org.nz
or call 0800 004 001.

Anyone worried that they or
someone they know is showing signs of dementia should
contact their GP for a full assessment. For support and
education people can contact their local Alzheimers
organisation on 0800 004 001.

Highlights of
Awareness and Understanding of Dementia in NZ
2014

• Two out of every three New
Zealanders are touched by dementiao For 64 percent of
those that know/have known someone with dementia, it’s a
family member.o A third of those that know/have known
someone with dementia have been involved in their direct
care and support.o 85% of people 60 years and over
know/have known someone with dementia.• More than a
third (34%) of New Zealanders state that dementia is one of
the things they fear most about getting older.• 15
percent of New Zealanders fear getting dementia more than
any other condition, second only to cancer.

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